Monday’s stormy episode in the Alpes-Maritimes caused damage.
In Cannes, residents had to be relocated to shelters and some lost almost everything.
Dozens of businesses and residents have been flooded and the city is requesting to be declared a state of natural disaster.
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The 8 p.m. news
After the torrents of water that invaded the streets of Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes) on Monday, the victims are facing the damage of the floods. In a ground floor apartment, there are still 30 centimeters of water at Nicole’s. She was very scared: “There was water coming in from under the door, but really quickly, I looked out the window. The water had risen up to above the windows.” Nicole cannot stay at home. She is welcomed into a community center.
Another family had to leave their home very quickly, leaving everything behind. “We left with nothing. My son was in his underwear this morning, my daughter in her pajamas. We were thrown out of bed by the water and in less than five minutes we found ourselves with a meter of water in the house, a torrent.” Like 24 other victims, they should be rehoused this evening by their insurer.
“Everything is ruined”
In a pharmacy, a large part of the stock was destroyed, representing a loss of more than €100,000. The manager of a neighbouring kebab shop, however, could not quantify the damage, but he will not be able to open for several weeks: “I lost everything, all the machines, freezers, fridges, everything. We will declare and note everything we lost, and an expert should come on Thursday.”
In the restaurant opposite, too, the toll is heavy: “Honestly, everything is ruined. The couch, the microwave, the fridge…” To help with the big clean-up, the municipal reserve was mobilized and volunteers spontaneously came forward, like Mustapha: “I’m taking water out of an elderly person’s garage. There are a lot of people in distress and some have even lost their homes. So we’re trying to help.”
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By mid-afternoon on Monday, 60 firefighters were still working to evacuate the water. “We still have many flooded cellars with large basements, describes Captain Jérôme Zorzut. This is an intervention that will last over time since we have a lot of water to pump.”
Dozens of businesses and residents have been flooded. The city of Cannes is requesting to be recognized as being in a state of natural disaster.
